Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-03
RICHMOND COUNTY MEETINGS.
Methodisss and Baptists Assemble
Politics and the Weather.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l

PeIttics ana the Weather.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
RICHMOND, August 80. 1887.
This month seems, by common con-
sent, to be set apart by all parties to
the consideration of spiritual things,
and for the present religious matters
arc now engaging the attention OF both
white and colOred in nearly every con-
nunity. The Methodist camp-meeting
closed its session at Marvin Grove with
IT'S usual success. TWAS well attended,
and though the number of conversions
WAS not very large, the opportunity was
utilized for the happy renewal Of old
acuuaintances ard interchanging opin-
ions relative 10 further development OF
oar denominational growth. The rapid
progress and steady increase of the
Methodist church for the last three or
four years gives it commanding inhu-
ence as the leading denomination in the
Northern Neck. Since our camp closed
the ministers and laymen' have returned
to their respective charges with renewed
zeal, to gather in the harvest from the
good seed sown at the camp-ground.
Our preachers are general Y very pop
nlar with their churches, and work to-
yaiis united, and the harmony that pre-
walls amongst them is the secret Of Me-
thodist prosperity throughout this Pc
ninsula. We have had no ministerial
roirs amongst our preachers, like our
neighbors Of next kin. Tho younger
and unsuccessful working and scheming
TO supplant the older ones and end the
unfaithful fight in drawn battle, with
nothing gained anil nothing progcn,
leaving public sentiment excited, to
collapse at leisure, in a deep-settled,
reflex prejudice against the young as
piring combatGnts, to the great injury
Of the cause once held dear to the
people.
Both the white and colored Baptist
churches are also engaged at present
in holding protracted meetings, aud
some have been unusually successful,
while terrible slaughter Of lambs,
pigs, and poultry has been going on as
Il sacrifice upon their affairs TO supply
tie demands Of the outer man, to help
him enjoy the occasions for spiritual
good.
Iotuskey church-Rev. G.. II. Nor
than, pastor-held a most successful
meeting for eight days, the pastor
preaching twice each day to a very
large crowd that attended regularly
throughout the meeting, which closed
the second Sabbath evening with
lorge audience assembled on the shore
OF Totuskey creek to witness the bap-
tiZing OF the converts. There were
fifty-eight professed conversion during
the meeting aud thirty-three united
with the church, with a goodly number
OF backslidcrs reclaimed. This Is the
ost prosperous Baptist church in the
Neck at present, juiging from its large
coreregations. and large and we'll
attended Sabbath school, with its large
edditions this and last year.
It the close of this meeting Rev G..
! Northam. the pastor, commenced
a.other protracted effort with isyoung
church Eeuldh. in Westmoreland coun-
Is. which continued also a week, he
pieach;ng twice each day to a crowd
that filed both house and yard, anxious
TO hear the Word preached. The num-
Der of conversions were large. Thirty
el2ht united with the church during the
meeting. and many of the other con-
vorts will Join the Methodist, and some
will join other Baptist churches. The
aggregate number Of conversions at
these two meetings held by Rev. G.. FL.
NoItham with his churches reach one
hundred and four. Seventy-one have
united with the churches of his pasto-
tate. Beulah is new house of wor-
ship completed this summer, built
through the sympathy of the people re-
CARELESS of dcnOmiuational lines. Some
OF the largest Of the contributions to-
wards its erection came from Methodist
families and men OF no profession.
This is the first protracted meeting
ever held in the new house, aud re-
suited in more than doubling their
membership, which puts the young
church on q self-sustaining basis and
gives it good set-off, with new, com
Portable house of worship completed
and paid for, and a popular pastor,
dearly beloved by the churches he
serves, and respected and appreciated
10y the community in which he lives
more than any other Baptist preacher
in all this land, together with this large
addition as the fruitage OF their recent
MEETING, makes their future bright be-
fore them.
Politics, which were apparently dor
mant until the Roanoke convention,
SET IN to be giving signs Of new life,
and will soon be the theme for thought
and discussion, as the platform OF that
convention is being read and studied
10y the people as a document OF the
right tone and temper to win the adj
miration and support of all unpreju-
diced minds and honest hearts.
We have been greatly blessed in this
section with abundant rains, and the
prospects for full crop of corn, tur-
nips, and potatoes are now certain.
the potato .raisers of this section have
renized good prices for their early
shipping. The continued rains have
hindered the farmers saving blade-fo1-
dcr, but has helped them in the way OF
following for wheat. The hay crop
was much larger and better saved this
season than ever before.
There has been more sickness an this
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